Railway truck construction



July 24, 1934. o. J. HORGER 1,967,822

RAILWAY TRUCK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet lWyn/r0}.- Z5 (9% 1 Cam. m i

y 24, 1934- o. J. HORGER .RAILWAY TRUCK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15,1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 24, 1934- o. J. HORGER 1,967,822

RAILWAY TRUCK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15, 193:5 4 Sheets-Sheet s July24, 1934. o. J. HORGER RAILWAY TRUCK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 15, 1933 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Potented July 24, 1934 rAr r Qt-mi;

RAILWAY TRUCK CQNSTRUCTION Oscar ll. Berger, Canton, lDhio, assignor toThe I Tim'ken Roller Bearing (Company, Canton, Ohio,

a corporation or Ohio Application March 15, 1933;, Serial No. 664L807 ll@isims.

. My invention relates to railway trucks, particularly to thearrangement of the axle and hearing parts in the side frame membersoisuch trucks. it is extremely dific'ult to install the usual type ofroller hearing axle assemblies in conventional railway truck framesadapted for plain bearings due to the increased size of the rollerbearings over the Plain ones. This is pa ticularly true in the case oicomparatively large integrally cast locomotive truck frames wherein itis impracticable to make the axle openings of the frame large enough toaccommodate the nsual type of roller bearing axle housing as-.

semhlies.

The principal object of this invention. is to provide an axle and rollerbearingassembly for a railway truck which will he able to withstand thestresses encountered, but which will he narrower in width than the usualtype oi such sssernblies so that it can be installed in a plain bearingtruck frame without'widening the axle openings thereof. it furtherobject is to provide a construction of this type which is simple inconstruction and which is readily dismentled for inspection purposes andthe like.

The invention consists principally in o. railway truck wherein the usualenlarged journal box portions of the housing that enclose the hear= ingsare dispensed with, and wherein the outer bearing members or cups of thebearings are made to cooperate directly with the side frame members ofthe truck. The invention alsoconsists in removably attaching closure orhousing members to the ends of the bearing maps so that they can bereadily removed, and in constructing and arranging the bearing parts sothat after the closure or housing members have been removed, the hearingparts can be readily moved along the axle into a convenient position forinspection purposes end the like. The invention further consists in theconstructions and com binations and arrangements oi parts hereinafterdes'cribedand claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings which form tort of this specification andwherein like rei= erence numerals refer to like parts wherever theyseem,

Fig. i is an-end view, with the outer end of the time and wheel cutaway, of an axle and bearing assembly 'embodying my invention andmounted in; a side frame member cl a. railway truck, and it is a view,along the line 11 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the axleand bearing assembly,beings-view along the line 22 in F g. 1,

(Cl. its-'19) Fig. 3 is a central horizontal section along the line 3-3in Fig. .2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along the line M in Fig. 2,

(Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 of to a modification oithe invention, U L

Fig. 6 is an end view partially in section or the split outer bearingmember or cup used in the modification disclosed in Fig. 5,-

Fig. 'l is a side view oi the split hearing cup on shown in Fig. 6,

Fig/Bis a verticnl section similar to Fig. 2 of another modification oithe invention,

9 is a horizontal section along the line 9-9 in'Fig. 8,

it is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2

ct another modification oi the invention,

Fig. ll is a horizontal section mong the line llll in Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a view looking at the inner end of the assembly shown in Fig.it with. the axle cut away, being a view along the line l2.12 in sis.is.

, In the accompanying drawings is shown a part oi a conventionalintegrally cast locomotive truck 3 1) side frame 1. having an axleopening 2 defined by pedestals whose bottoms are connected by a pedestaltie member 3.. The pedestal t on one side of the axle opening extendsvertically, whereas the pedestal 5 on the other side thereof is inclinedto make the opening wider at its bottom. The vertical pedestal t has achannel-shaped frame liner 6 fitted around it. The inclined pedestal 5has a channel-shaped frame liner 7 fitted around it, which has awedge-shaped web for 9Q cooperating with the inclined pedestal.Preferably, a holder block 8 is welded to the pedestal 4 above the topof the frame liner 6 for preventing vertical displacement thereof; andthe wedgeshaped liner 7 is provided at its bottom with an adjustment.bolt 9 that has threaded engagement with thepedestal tie member 3 forpreventme vertical displacement of said liner 7 and for adjusting itsposition.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive,an axle 10, with a. wheel 11 fixed thereon, is disposed within the axleopenme 2 in the side frame of the truck. An inner bearing member or cone12 having two racewayportions, and having its smaller diameter at its ofsaidcone abuts against the end of an annular Q rib 13 provided on theaxle; the outer end of said cone abuts against the end of a spacer ringMm middle, is mounted on the axle. The inner end located on the insideof'the side frame.

14 fixed on the axle between said cone and the wheel 11.

Disposed within thev axle opening 2 of the truck side frame and mountedaround the cone on the axle is an outer bearing member or cup 15 havingtwo raceway portions that cooperate with those of the cone; and twocircular sets of conical rollers 16, in suitable cages 1'7, areinterposed between the cup and cone. The cup has a central rib 18 on itsinner periphery at its middle for separating the two raceway portionsthereof. The cup also has annular recesses 19 in its inner periphery atits ends for receiving rings 20 whose ends facing the middle of thebearing constitute thrust surfaces for the large ends of the conicalrollers.

The bearing cup 15, instead of being made in the usual circular form,has flat sides 21, a flat top 22, and a flat bottom 23, making itgenerally rectangular in shape. The flat sides 21 of the cup directlyengage the flat wear faces of the frame liners; and the usual loadtransmitting spring saddle members 24 of the truck are seated directlyon the flat top 22 of the cup.

' The axle between the side frames of the truck is enclosed in asubstantially U-shaped axle housing 25 that is provided with a top coverplate 26 which is removably secured to the axle housing as by bolts 2'7extending through said cover plate and into threaded holes provided forsuch bolts in the top edge portions of the U-shaped hous ing. The end ofsaid axle housing adjacent to the inner end of the bearing cup is flaredout-laterally to form vertically disposed side flange portions 28 and anintegral bottom flange portion 29, and the side flange portions areextended upwardly above the top of the U-shaped housing at its end. Thecover plate 26 is provided with an upright flange portion 30 at its endwhich fills the space between the upwardly extended flange portions ofthe side flanges of the axle housing. This upright flange portion 30 ofthe cover plate 26 and the lateral end flange portions 28 and 29 of theaxle housing are provided with a series of bolt holes for receivingbolts 31 for securing the axle housing and its cover plate to thebearing cup. These bolts extend entirely through the cup from end to endthereof and are also used for securing an outer housing member orclosure ring 32 to the bearing cup. The outer closure ring is mountedaround the spacer ring 14 at the outer end of the bearing cone, and itis made generally rectangular in outline with the corner portionsthereof cut away as at 33 for accommodating nuts 34 threaded on the endsof four comparatively large bolts 35 that extend through the side endflange portions of the axle housing and through the bearing cup near itsrespective corners.

Both the closure ring and the upright flange portion of the cover plateare arranged to keep the spring saddle members from sliding off of theirseats on the top of the bearing cup. The upn'ght flange portion of thecover plate extends above the top of cup and has flange portions 36 atits sides that extend over the top of the cup to form a pocket for thespring saddle member Likewise, the closure ring extends above the top ofthe cup and has a pair of flange portions 3'7 that extend over the topof the cup to form a pocket for the spring saddle member located on theoutside of the side frame.

The inner end of the closure ring abuts against the thrust ring at theouter end of the bearing cup for holding said ring in place; and the endof the axle housing and the flange portion of the cover plate are madeto abut against the thrust ring at the irmer end of the bearing cup forholding said ring in place. Preferably, shims 38 conforming in shape tothat of the respective ,ends of the bearing cup are interposed betweenits respective ends and the adjacent parts bolted thereto, said shimsconstituting means for adjusting the bearings.

The lateral side flange portions at the end of the axle housing extendbeyond the sides of the bearing cup and are provided with thrust blocks39 that have flat thrust surfaces facing the inner flanges of the frameliners for engaging the same for preventing excessive endwise movementof the entire axle and bearing assembly with respect to the truck frame.Such flange portions are, preferably, strengthened by integral webs 40provided at the sides of the axle housing.

The construction hereinabove described may be readily dismantled asfollows: The truck frame is jacked up and the entire wheel and axleassembly dropped therefrom. The bolts securing the axle housing, thecover plate, and the outer closure ring to the bearing cup are removed.The cover plate is then lifted from the axle housing and the axlehousing dropped to the floor. With the cover plate and axle housing outof the way, the inner thrust ring is pulled out of its seat in the cuprecess. This removal of the thrust ring allows the inner set of rollersand cage assembly to be pulled out of the cup and inwardly I along theaxle and thereafter the cup, together with the outer set of rollers andcage assembly so that all of the bearing parts can be brought into aconvenient position where they are completely exposed for inspection, orthe like.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the position of the bearingsis reversed from that shown in the preferred form. The inner bearingmember or cone 12a has its largest diameter at its middle andis providedon its outer periphery at its middle with an annular positioning rib 41and at its ends with annular thrust ribs 42; and 20 the outer bearingmember or cup 15a is split at its center to allow removal of the bearingparts. The two half sections of the composite cup are, obviously, heldfirmly together by the bolts 31 and 35 which secure the axle housing,the cover 5 plate, and the outer closure ring to the respective ends ofthe composite cup. Preferably, instead of splitting the bearing cup in asingle plane, it is advisable to provide one of the half sections of thebearing cup with an annular flange 43 that projects from its end facingthe outer half section of the cup and fits into an annular mating recess44 provided therefor in the adjoining end of the other half section ofthe bearing cup. Also in some'instances, when the split type of bearingcup is used, it is advisable to further clamp the two half sections ofthe composite bearing cup together by the arrangement shown in Figs. 6and '7. In this construction, each side of the composite bearing cups isprovided with a central circular groove 45 which is slightly under-cutat its bottom, and a clamping ring 46 whose cross section corresponds tothat of the groove is pressed in the groove. The clamping rings 46, whenassembled within the 145 circular grooves 45, obviously, prevent the twohalf sections of the composite cup from spreading apart; and it isimpossible for the clamping ring to worl; loose due to the undercutshape of the grooves.

menace With this form or the invention, the housing and bearing partsare readilydismantled as follows: The truck is jacked up, and the axleassembly dropped therefrom. The bolts holding the two half sections ofthe cup and securing the closure and housing members thereto areremoved. The cover plate is lifted from the housing; the housing isdropped to the floor; and the wheel is removed. This leaves the axle andbearing parts exposed and by prying the clamping rings loose, the twohalf sections of the composite bearing cup are free to. separate so thatthe inner bearing parts can be brought inwardly along theaxle and theouter bearing parts outwardly along the axle'where they can be readilyinspected.

'In the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the generalarrangement of parts and the position of the bearings are quite similarto thatoi the preferred fornroi the invention, except that the outerbearing member is provided at its middle on its outer periphery with anintegral thrust rib 47 for the small ends of the rollers and at itsouter end with an integral thrust rib it for the large ends of the outerset of rollers. The cone 12b atitsinner end is provided with an ulargroove 49 in its outer periphery for receiving a split ring 50 snapped,or otherwise fitted therein, which holds a thrust ring 51 in place thatencircles the cone and that is provided with a thrust surface for thelarge ends of the inner set of rollers. With this arrangement, the partsare readily inspected by removing the axle housing, the cover plate, andthe outer closure ring in a manner similar to that for removing the sameparts in the preferred term. With these parts removed, the split ring 50removed from the groove 49 in which it is seated, which removal allowsthe thrust ring and the inner roller and cage assembly, followedthereafter by the cup and outer roller and cage assembly, to be movedinwardly along the axle.

In'the modification shown in Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, the constructionof the outer closure ring and of the bearing parts is similar in allrespects to that of the corresponding parts oi the modificationillustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and just described. However, in this formof the invention, instead of using a U-shaped axle housing that extendsbetween the side frames of the truck, a housing member in the form of acomparatively large inner closure ring 52 is bolted to the inner end or"the. bearing cup 15?) in a manner similar to that of bolting theU-shaped axle housing to the cup in the other forms of the invention.This inner closure ring encircles the integral cone engaging thrust rib.13 provided on the axle. Said closure ring 52 extends above the top ofthe bearing cup and-is provided with flange portions 36c, extending overthe top of the cup to form a pocket for the inner saddle member 24; andthe side portions of said closure ring 52 extend beyond the sides of thebearing cup and support the thrust blocks 39 bolted to said sideportions for engaging the inner flanges of the frame liners forpreventing endwise movement of the axle assembly. The steps required-fordismantling this form of construction are, obviously, quite similar tothose'described in connection with the other .iorms of the invention; itis believed unnecessary to describe such steps in detail.

With the constructions hereinabove described, by forming the bearingcupsso that they cooperate directly with the side members of the truck,

or cup 15? is madeplain; and the inner bearing member or cone 12b I anaxle and bearing assembly, conforming to my invention can be madeconsiderably narrower than the usual type of such assemblies thatareprovided with bearing housings. Accordingly, my axle and rollerbearing assembly can be installed in a conventional truck frame adaptedfor plain bearings at a comparatively low, cost. In equipping aconventional plain truck frame with my axle and roller bearingassemblies, the only work required to be done on the pedestal members ofthe truck frame is to machine such members slightly to straighten themout and to properly aline them; and in some'cases where the pedestalmembers are not worn to any great extent, such slight machiningoperations may even be unnecessary.

As pointed out hereinabove, the axle and roller bearing assembliesembodying my invention are readily dismantled so that the bearing partsthereof can be broughtinto a convenient posi-. tion where they arereadily accessible for inspection purposes, and the like. Furthermore,it is to be notedthat the constructions are extremely simple. They canbe made for about the same cost as that of the usual type of rollerbearing axle constructions which could only be installed in a plainbearing truck frame by making the axle openings wider which wouldinvolve considerable e and which widening of the openings would have thedisadvantage of weakening the frame.

Obviously, the constructions hereinabove described admit of considerablevariations without departing from the scope of the invention; ac

cordingly. I do not wish to be limited to the precise constructions andarrangements of parts shown and described.

What I c is:

l. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings each comprising an outer raceway memberformed with its exterior side surfaces substantially vertical for directcooperation with the side frame members oi said truck. frame, a housingextending partially around said axle withits ends secured to the innerends of said raceway members, and newer removably secured to saidhousing for completely enclosing said axle, the ends of said cover andsaid housing being removably secured to the ends of-said outer racewaymembers.

2. The combination of a railway truck, frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings each comprising an outer raceway memberformed with its exterior side surfaces substantially vertical for directcooperation with the side frame members of said truck frame, asubstantially U-shaped housing mounted around said axle with its endssecured to the inner ends of said raceway-members, a cover secured tosaid housing for completely enclosing said axle, a closure ring mountedaround said axle at the outer end of said bearings, and means extendingthrough each outer raceway member from end to end thereof for securingthe axle housing, thecover therefor, the closure ring and said outer.raceway member.

3. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings each comprising an outer raceway mem-'ber formed with its exterior side surfaces substantially vertical fordirect cooperation with the side frame members .of said truck frame,said outer raceway member having annular recesses in its inner peripheryat its ends. thrust rings for the bearing rollers disposed in saidrecesses, and housing members mounted around said axle with its endssecured to the inner ends of said raceway members, said housing membersabutting against said thrust rings for holding them in place.

4. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings being provided with an outer racewaymember formed with its sides substantially vertical for directcooperation with the side frame members of said truck frame, said outerbearing member having annular recesses in its inner periphery at itsends, thrust rings for the bearing rollers disposed in said recesses, asubstantially U-shaped housing mounted around said axle and means forfastening the ends of said housing to the inner ends of said outerraceway members, a cover plate secured to said housing, the ends of saidcover plate and said housing abutting against the inner thrust ring tohold it in place, a closure ring mounted around said axle at the outerend of said bearings, said closure ring abutting against said outerthrust ring to hold it in place, said fastening means comprising boltsextending through said outer raceway members, the housing, cover platesand closure rings.

5. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings being provided with an outer bearingmember formed for direct cooperation with the side frame members of saidtruck frame, a housing member mounted around said axle at the end ofsaid bearings, the side portions of said housing extending beyond thesides of said outer bearing member, thrust members provided on the sideportions of the housing member for cooperating with the pedestal membersof the truck frame, and means extending through said side housing memberand into said outer bearing member for securing said housing memberthereto.

6. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle, roller bearingsmounted thereon, said bearings being provided with an outer bearingmember formed for direct cooperation with the side frame members of saidtruck frame, a housing mounted around said axle at the end of saidbearings, the end of said housing adjacent to the bearings being flangedout laterally to form side flange portions which extend beyond the sidesof said outer bearing member, thrust members provided on said sideflange portions of the housing for cooperating with the pedestal membersof the truck frame, and bolts extending through said side flangeportions and into said outer bearing member for securing said housingthereto.@

'1. The combination of a railway truck frame having spring saddlemembers, an axle, roller ,bearings mounted on the end portions of saidaxle and each having an outer raceway member, and a housing for saidaxle with its ends rigidly secured to the inner ends of said outerraceway members, the spring saddle members being seated directly onthe'top of said outer raceway member, the upper end portions of saidhousing members extending upwardly beyond the tops of said racewaymembers to help keep said spring saddle members on their seats.

8. The combination of a railway truck frame having an'inner springsaddle member and an outer spring saddle member, an axle, rollerbearings including an outer bearing member mounted thereon, the springsaddle members being seated on the top of said outer bearing member, asubstantialLv U-shaped housing mounted around the axle at the inner endof said bearings and secured to said outer bearing member, a cover platesecured to said housing and having a flange portion at its end extendingabove the top of the outer bearing member and cooperating with the innerspring saddle member for keeping it seated on the top of the outerbearing member, a closure ring mounted around said axle at the outer endof the bearings, and secured to said outer bearing member, the upperportion of said closure ring extending above the top of the outerbearing member and cooperating with the outer spring saddle member forkeeping it seated on the top of the outer bearing member.

9. The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle vertically movablymountedtherein, roller bearings mounted on said axle and each comprisingan outer bearing member with substantially vertical outer sides adaptedfor vertical sliding in the frame and a substantially horizontal topsurface adapted to constitute a seat for a saddle member, a housingrigidly connecting said outer bearing members together, said outerbearing members each having two raceway portions and being split betweensuch raceway portions, and means extending through the hous- 'ingmembers and the two half sections of the outer bearing member forholding them all together.

10.- The combination of a railway truck frame, an axle verticallymovably mounted therein, roller bearings mounted on said axle and eachcomprising an outer bearing member with substantially vertical outersides adapted for vertical sliding in the frame and a substantiallyhorizontal top surface adapted to constitute a I seat for a saddlemember, a housing rigidly connecting said outer bearing memberstogether, said outer bearing mefnbers each having two raceway portionsand being split between such raceway portions, the half sections of theouter bearing member having'semi-circular grooves in their sides thatform circular grooves when the two half sections of the outer bearingmember are placed together, and rings in said grooves for holding thetwo half sections of the outer bearing member together.

11. The combination of a railway truck frame having an axle opening, anaxle vertically movably mounted in said opening, an inner bearing membermounted on said axle near each end thereof, an outer bearing membermounted

